New Jersey State PBA President
Pat Colligan (left) and Local 357
State Delegate and State PBA 5th
Vice-President Hank Werner each
threw out the ceremonial first
pitch at the Somerset Patriots
“New Jersey State PBA Appreciation Night” on June 26.
New Jersey State PBA Appreciation
Night at the ballpark is a grand slam
On June 26, PBA members from around the state headed to the
Somerset Patriots Stadium for a night of law enforcement appreciation.
“It’s been a tough year or two in New Jersey to be a police officer,”
noted Local 357 State Delegate and State PBA 5th Vice-President
Hank Werner. “When a prestigious organization like the Somerset
Patriots gives you a call and says they want to honor you, it’s a humbling and great experience.”
A pregame ceremony included an appearance by the Somerset
County Pipe and Drum Band and Honor Guards from Bridgewater
Township Local 174, Hamilton Township Local 66 and Bloomfield
Local 32 performed the National Anthem.
Werner and State PBA President Pat Colligan each threw out the
first pitch before the Patriots took on the Southern Maryland Blue
Crabs.
“It was an honor to do it; it’s not an opportunity everybody gets to
do,” added Werner. “And to throw out the first-pitch with Pat
Colligan was awesome.”
Somerville Local 147 State Delegate Vittorio Spadea brought his
seven-year-old nephew, Tommy Pearson, to the ballpark for his first
baseball game.
“Tommy was getting into it doing the Somerset Patriots’ cheer
and he was so excited to meet the mascots, Sparkee and Slider,”
announced Spadea. “Toward the end of the game we caught a foul
Somerville Local 147 State Delegate Vittorio Spadea (second from
right) holds his nephew, Tommy Pearson, along with family members
at the Somerset Patriots Stadium.
ball, we got pictures and the mascots signed the ball for him too. It
was a great family day.”
The Patriots ended the storybook night with a walk-off single to
win the game.
All proceeds from ticket sales purchased by PBA members went
to the Survivor and Welfare Fund.d
www.njcopsmagazine.com
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JULY 2015
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